IN North Allegheny Winter 2016 | Page 57

The North Allegheny School District’s Marcia Martin Unity/ Diversity Committee is seeking diverse community groups and organizations to share their resources, educate the public and participate in the festivities at the District’s second annual “Celebration of Us” event. “Celebration of Us” will feature speakers, cultural performances from a variety of dance and chorus groups, and display North Allegheny AFJROTC Earns Nationally Recognized Accreditation Earlier this month, the North Allegheny School District’s Air Force Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (AFJROTC) program earned accreditation from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Council on Accreditation and School Improvement (SACS CASI), an accreditation division of AdvancED. SACS CASI provides nationally recognized accreditation to schools that have demonstrated continuous improvement focused on increasing student performance. To earn accreditation, schools must meet SACS CASI’s high standards, be evaluated by a team of outside professionals and implement a continuous process of school improvement. “Accreditation demonstrates to our students, parents and community that we are focused on raising student achievement, providing a safe and enriching learning environment and maintaining an efficient and effective operation staffed by highly qualified educators,” says Dr. Brendan Hyland, Principal of North Allegheny Intermediate High School. SACS CASI accreditation is recognized across state lines, which not only eases the transfer process as students move between accredited schools, but also assures parents that the school is meeting nationally accepted standards for quality and successful professional practice. Dr. Mark Elgart, President/CEO of AdvancED, the parent organization of SACS CASI, said, “SACS CASI Accreditation is a rigorous process that focuses the entire school on the primary goal of creating lifelong learners. North Allegheny is to be commended for engaging in this process and demonstrating a commitment to continuous improvement.” Under the leadership of Major Scott Kolar and Chief Master Sergeant Terry Speer, North Allegheny’s AFJROTC curriculum provides leadership training and an aerospace science program for high school students. The curriculum emphasizes the Air Force heritage and traditions, the development of flight, applied flight sciences, military aerospace policies and space exploration. Currently, 128 North Allegheny students in grades 9 through 12 are enrolled in the District’s AFJROTC program. North Allegheny | Winter 2016 | icmags.com 55 N OR TH AL L E GHE NY SC HOOL DI STRI C T NE WS North Allegheny Seeks Community Groups for Diversity E